Los Lunas Board of Education to consider closure of Raymond Gabaldon Elementary

LOS LUNAS — Los Lunas Schools Board of Education President Michelle Osowski presented a proposal for the closure of Raymond Gabaldon Elementary by the end of the next school year at the May 21 BOE meeting.

Several LLS employees and members of the public gathered in the crowded board meeting room, some wearing “Save RGE” shirts to show their support for the school. Passion was evident for the future continuation of the school, and there were misty eyes throughout the duration of the discussion.

For the past couple of years, district leadership has been contemplating what to do with RGE as the district’s facility consultants revealed much of the building is in poor condition and parts of it are not up to state facility standards.

Previously, it was thought that construction of a new campus was being considered for RGE, which Osowski said is the third oldest district building.

However, at the May 7 special BOE meeting, the board approved a preliminary elementary enrollment and boundary study addendum created by Visions In Planning, Inc. as the state wanted the district to verify there are enough students living in the area to support the future replacement of Ann Parish Elementary, which would account for at least 540 students.

One of the recommendations derived from the study was to consider replacing RGE with something else, perhaps a pre-k center.

Six attendees, ranging from RGE parents to LLS employees, expressed dismay in the proposal to close RGE during public comment and urged the board to reconsider.

Public comment

Jessica Benavidez, a staff member at Raymond Gabaldon Elementary, was the first to address the board members. She said RGE is one of four schools within the district that has a community enhanced learning program that teaches students life skills, social skills and academic skills. She also highlighted the many community events held at RGE enjoyed by students and their families.

“Why are you bringing up the closing of RGE so suddenly? The last news at the end of March was that there was a five-year plan and in that plan was a renovation of RGE, not the closing of it,” Benavidez said. “Where will the students go? Why weren’t families or the public notified of this?”

Benavidez said research has shown that stability is important for the well-being of youth, and by sending all these students to different schools, they are breaking that stability in their lives.

Benavidez also expressed concern about overcrowding at neighboring schools if RGE were to be shut down and how this would be hard on teachers and students alike.

Bryan Mascarena, a parent of a RGE student, said he has been in elected and appointed boards and has been tasked with similar difficult decisions, but “kids are the most important thing.”

“I know it’s a recommendation from the state, but the state’s not always right,” Mascarena said. “I ask you as a parent, let’s keep Raymond Gabaldon Elementary open for the kids. I know what you’re going through, but in the long run, there’s better ways of saving money.”

Another RGE parent, Yvette Waites, said RGE is not like any other school, and the thought of breaking up the tight-knit community is disheartening and concerning.

RGE inclusion support coach Mary Ann Chavez, who is also the National Educators Association president, presented the board with letters written by RGE students regarding the possibility of their school closing.

“I really want you to consider the letters that I handed to you from students at our school. I didn’t approach them. They approached me and asked if I could take them,” Chavez said during the public comment portion of the meeting.

Osowski proposal

Osowski thanked the speakers for taking part in the discussion and then led a presentation on a proposal she developed for RGE.

Osowski said the board receives all sorts of information from various consultants to help maintain requirements that are determined by the New Mexico Public Education Department or the New Mexico Legislature.

Osowski explained the district had a recent facility assessment done by consultants and they rated the adequacy of all the buildings within the district. This data formed the basis for the district’s five-year facility master plan, which was approved in August 2023.

“Without considering the blue school, which we do not have children in, or the opportunity school, RGE has the worst adequacy rating in the district,” Osowski said. “It was rated as a 43, which is considered poor.”

The physical plant of RGE also has the worst rating of the remaining 20 sites, she said, with a score of 53 percent, which is considered borderline by the company who rated the facilities.

Osowski said there are a total of 29 classrooms at RGE, nine of which are portables, and seven of the permanent classrooms are below state adequacy standards.

“This means we are putting approximately 35 percent of the currently-enrolled students in classrooms that are not adequate,” she said.

“In 2023, the estimated construction improvement project cost for RGE was $26.7 million,” said Osowski. “We do not have $26.7 million in cash reserves. We will not have $26.7 million in cash reserves to where we can handle just the renovation of RGE.”

Osowski also noted enrollment at the school has been declining and more than 40 percent of students who live in the RGE attendance area transfer out. In order to keep enrollment up, Osowski said they have been transporting about 55 students who live in the Ann Parish Elementary attendance area to RGE.

“I think that’s a problem. We’re putting children on buses to prop up a school,” she said.

Osowski said this is only a proposal and the first of many discussions. If the proposal is approved by the board, there would be an announcement to all RGE stakeholders through various media and it would take about a year.

“This is not happening tomorrow. That building is not intended to be destroyed. There would be community meetings, a minimum of three, as we go into the fall to hear concerns,” said Osowski. “We hear and understand overcrowding concerns, but we have state laws that tell us about how many children should be in a classroom by age and Mr. Saiz (LLS chief personnel officer) and his staff pay attention to those details.”

Osowski said no board action regarding the closure of RGE has been taken to this point. However, should the proposal be approved, Osowski said she would then like to form numerous planning committees to inform the process of closing the school, including a committee that suggests possible uses of the facility to the board.

“We don’t want to give that building up; we know that it has community value,” she said.

“No plans can be made or action taken until the board of education approves a proposal to close it,” she emphasized. “My family is impacted by it as well. It’s a wonderful 85-year-old school. Please don’t think that the sentiment of loyalty is lost on me; it is not.”

Board member Justin Talley said he thinks Osowski’s proposal is well-structured, but this is the first time he’s seen the proposal, and he and the rest of the board need more time to digest it before taking any action.

Further discussion will be held at a work session at 3 p.m., Thursday, June 6, in the central office boardroom, 119 Luna Ave., in Los Lunas. The board will then make a decision on the possible closure of Raymond Gabaldon Elementary at 5 p.m. the same day during a special meeting.